Light device

ABSTRACT

A lighting device serving both ornamental and functional purposes having a base, a vertically arranged light passing member extending upwardly from the base, a light and color wheel in the base arranged to direct light of various colors into the light passing member and having forms wherein water vapor, reflective material or incense may be directed into the light passing member to carry the light beam and an additional form wherein the light passing member is filled with fluid and air is bubbled therethrough. The form incorporating the water vapor may include means to pass the water vapor into the air to serve as a humidifying device.

Hess

[ 1 LIGHT DEVICE [76] Inventor: Richard E. Hess, 7136-60th Ave.

N., New Hope, Minn. 55428 [22] Filed: April 5, 1971 [21] Appl. No.:131,337

[52] [1.8. CI. ..240/l0.1, 240/2 LP [51] 1nt.Cl ..F2lp 3/00, F2ls 3/12[58] Field of Search ..240/l0.l, 10 R, 2 FD, 2 LC, 240/2 LP, 10 A [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,351,562 8/1920 Foster..240/l0.l

3,536,908 10/1970 Oster ..240/10.1

1,281,869 10/1918 Stillwaggon.... ...240/2 LF X 1,533,738 4/1925 Kane eta1. ..240/2 LF X 1,802,082 4/1931 Kloppe.... ..240/2 LF x 1,965,3237/1934 Taslitt ..240/2 LF X Jan. 16, 1973 AttorneyJames R. Cwayna [57]ABSTRACT A lighting device serving both ornamental and functionalpurposes having a base, a vertically arranged light passing memberextending upwardly from the base, a light and color wheel in the basearranged to direct light of various colors into the light passing memberand having forms wherein water vapor, reflective material or incense maybe directed into the light passing member to carry the light beam and anadditional form wherein the light passing member is filled with fluidand air is bubbled therethrough. The form incorporating the water vapormay include means to pass the water vapor into the air to serve as ahumidifying device.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAH 16 I973 SHEET 1 BF 3 FIG. I

INVENTOR.

RICHARD E. HESS fifi'uaym ATTORNEY FIG 2 PATENTEU JAN 16 I975 SHEET 2[IF 3 INVENTOR.

RICHARD E. HESS famed fifimyma.

ATTORNEY PATENTED JAN 16 I973 SHEET 3 OF 3 n& M W WH w R N A m m m" R AY B .QJQHE K LIG IIT DEVICE Applicant provides herein a unique lightdevice which includes a concept of passing light through various lightdispersing materials to achieve an ornamental as well as a functionaleffect. The light is initially passed through a color wheel or the likesuch that different colors of light will be passed into the visibleportion of the device and as the light passes through the dispersingmaterial a particularly interesting and decorative effect is obtained.

In addition to a decorative effect, applicant includes means forintroducing the dispersing medium into the air and when this medium iswater vapor a humidifying effect is obtained while when the medium issmoke from for instance burning increase the aroma of the burned incenseis provided.

It is therefore an object of applicants invention to provide a uniquelighting device utilizing a light dispersing medium within the visibleportion thereof for a particularly decorative end result.

It is a further object of applicants invention to provide a lightingdevice which incorporates water vapor as a light passing and dispersingmedium within the visible portion thereof and having means for releasingthe water vapor into the atmosphere to provide a humidifying effect.

It is a further object of applicants invention to provide a lightingdevice having means for passing a light reflective and dispersingmaterial through the visible portion thereof with means for recyclingthe reflective material through said visible portion.

It is still a further object of applicants invention to provide alighting device particularly arranged for the burning of incense orsimilar burnable aromatics with the resulting smoke therefrom being usedas a light reflecting medium by passing a beam of light therethrough.

It is still a further object of applicant's invention to provide alighting device which incorporates means for passing a light beamthrough a color wheel or other similar color inducing member andthereafter passing this now colored light through a reflecting anddispersing medium.

These and other objects and advantages of applicants will more fullyappear from the following description made is connection with theaccompanying drawings wherein like numerals designate the same orsimilar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the lighting device embodying the conceptsof applicants invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIG.1 illustrating one form of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating a second form of theinvention;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating another form of theinvention;

FIG. 5 is a view of another modified form of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a selected portion of FIG. 5 and beingdrawn to an enlarged scale for purposes of clarity.

In accordance with the accompanying drawings, the lighting deviceembodying the concepts of applicants invention is generally designated10 and three particular forms of the invention are of the same basicdesign,

these being the forms illustrated in FIGS. 2,3 and 4. In theseparticular figures the basic lighting device 10 includes a base 11having a first upstanding side element 12 defining a passage 12atherethrough. This upstanding member is formed with external flanges foresthetic considerations and the specific form is not important to theinventive aspects of the concept. Arranged within the passage 12a is atop shroud member 13 having a vertical wall portion and a generallyhorizontal top portion 13b. These three elements, consisting of base 11,side portion 12 and thetop shroud 13 form an enclosed housing sectiondefining a cavity 14 therein for housing the various functional portionsof the lighting device 10. Obviously means should be provided forseparating the shroud from the base 11 to provide access to thefunctional portions of the device. In the form shown it may be necessaryto remove or provide means for removing both the shroud I3 and theupstanding side element 12 from the base 1]. This should be a relativelysimple type releasing means and may include a snap" type connection.

In the forms of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 a generally U- shaped, light passingmember 15 is arranged to have the ends 15a, 15b thereof extend throughapertures 14a, 14b in the upper surface of the shroud 13. Theseapertures allow access of the ends 15a, 15b into the cavity of theshroud, and may be defined by downwardly extending cylinders 16a, 16bformed by the shroud l3. Shoulders 15c, 15d are formed on the lightpassage 15 to govern the depth to which the light passing member willextend into the cavity 14.

The particular designs of the functional portions of FIGS. 2, ascompared to those of 3, 4 includes a cold vapor system having ahumidifying device 17, a water reservoir 18 connected to the humidifier17 and means connecting the humidifier 17 to the light passing member15. This connection, in the form shown includes a conduit member 19connecting the outlet of the humidifier 17 to a closure member 21enclosing the end 15a of the light passing member and a second conduitmember 20 connecting the second closure member 22 of the second end ofthe light passing member 15 to the reservoir. It should be noted thatthe means for closing the ends 15a, 15b of the light passing member 15is also passing. The arrangement of the humidifier l7 and theconnections therefrom to the light passing member 15 and the connectionsfrom the light passing member 15 will permit the flow of cold vaporthrough the light passing in an ordinarily supplied closed circuitsystem. In order to convert this closed circuit system into a roomhumidifier, it is only necessary to supply a closeable vent member 21 onthe return end 15b of the light passing member 15, such that the watervapor is free to pass therefrom into the room. If the system is utilizedas a room humidifier it will be necessary to replace water into thereservoir 18 and for this purpose a filling passage 130 is formed in thetop surface of the shroud 13 and a connecting tube 13d is provided todirect additional filling water to the reservoir 18. A plug for sealingthe passage 13c is also provided and is designated Be.

In the form shown in FIG. 2, the means for passing the light into andthrough the light passing'member 15 includes a first light wheel orcolor wheel device designated 24 mounted for driven rotation upon a slowrpm motor 25 or the like and it should be noted that the periphery ofthe color wheel 24 is in vertically downwardly displaced relation fromthe bottoms of the U-shaped member 15a, 15b. The form and function ofsuch a color wheel is generally known in the art and no furtherdiscussion is deemed necessary.

The light source for lighting of the light passing member 15 isgenerally designated 26 and includes a pair of spaced light members 27,28 arranged below the color wheel 24 such that the light emitted therebywill be delivered upwardly through the light wheel 24 and upwardlythrough the tubular ends 15a, 15b. This, now colored light, will passinto and through the water vapor and the water vapor effectively actingas a cloud bank will both reflect and disperse the light to produce theproper decorative effect.

The form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 3 is varied substantiallyfrom that illustrated in FIG. 2 but only in the functional aspects. Asillustrated in FIG. 3 the functional portions of the lighting device areagain embodied in the cavity 14 of the unit. In this instance, verticaldeflectors 30 are arranged in the inlet end a of the light passingmember 15 and as such are designed to particularly direct the materialdelivered thereto in a generally upward flow. In order to properlypropel the material about and through the U-shaped member 15 a fandevice 31, in this case being a centrifugal fan, is provided and theoutlet 31a thereof is connected to a conduit 32 feeding the closure 33of the light passing member 15. The return from the U-shaped member 15is directed again through a closure member 34 into a return conduit 35to provide a closed circuit system for the centrifugal fan 31. In thisform the closure members 33, 34 are again light passing.

The material placed into the closed circuit system when using thiscentrifugal fan may take many obvious forms but the applicant has foundthat a light reflective, relatively small particle material willproperly reflect the passing light and effectively move even though thefan employed is relatively low in power and velocity.

In order to obtain the proper lighting effect in this particular form,applicant again provides a rotating and rotatable color wheel 36 mountedin driven relation upon a motor or other source of rotative power 37with the outer periphery of the color wheel 36 being arranged below therespective ends of the light passing member 15. Below the outer oreffective portions of the color wheel 36, applicant has again arranged apair of light sources 3838. The light being emitted from these lightsources 38-38 will pass through the color wheel 36 and upwardly into thelight passing member 15 where it will be reflected upon the materialbeing carried therein to obtain the desired decorative effect.

The form of the lighting device illustrated in FIG. 4 again utilizes thesame structural elements as those of FIGS. 2 and 3 and departs therefromin the operative or functional portions thereof. As illustrated in FIG.4, the light passing member 15 is provided with closure caps 40-40 onthe lower ends thereof and the member 15 is filled with a fluid materialwhich may contain coloring material if desired. An air pump member 41 isarranged on the base 11 within the cavity 14 and a pair of conduits 42,43 and these conduits pass upwardly exteriorally of the light passingmember to an upper portion thereof and then pass inwardly and downwardlyof the light passing member to a point adjacent the bottoms thereof.These lower ends 42a, 43a are open and allow the air to pass therefrom.This air will bubble upwardly within the fluid within the light passingmember 15. A vent 15e is provided on the uppermost end of the U- shapedlight passing member 15 for the release of this bubbled air. As shown inFIG. 4 the fluid may not fill the entire light passing member but mayterminate at another desirable level.

Arranged below the ends of the light passing member is a color wheel 44positioned for rotation upon a motor or the like 45 and again a pair oflight sources are arranged below the color wheel 45 to be directedupwardly through the fluid containing light passing member 15. Theselight sources are designated 46-46.

In these three forms discussed, it should be obvious that electricalsources and connections must be provided to energize the humidifier, fanand air pump as well as the motors and light sources. It should also beobvious that the light sources utilized should preferrably be directedupwardly with the maximum amount of light emitted thereby passing intothe light passing member 15. Another modification that should be obviousis that with a light source creating sufficient heat, it may be possibleto fin the periphery of the color wheel and the heat of the lightsources will upon its upward flow provide a sufficient force to causerotation of the wheel.

A further modification of the lighting device 10 is illustrated in FIGS.5 and 6 and although it would be possible to modify the forms of theother figures to accomodate the function of this unit, applicant haschosen to slightly modify the concept when it is desirable to pass thefumes of aromatic burning material into the room in which the light isplaced.

In this particular form, a base 51 having a peripheral resting ring 52is provided and an ornamental ring with upstanding sides 53 is providedtherewith and a shroud having upstanding sides and an upper surface,designated respectively 54, 54a and 54b is provided therewith to againprovide a cavity to house the functional portions of the device. Anaperture 55 defined by a downwardly depending ring 56 is formed in theupper surface of the shroud. A light passing member 57 substantiallycylindrical in shape and having an inwardly and upwardly directed topportion 58 and an open bottom 59 is arranged in the aperture 55 and isprevented from further extension into the cavity by a radially extendingshoulder 60. Arranged below the open end 59 of the light passing member57 is a rotatably mounted color wheel 61 mounted upon a base 62 which isslightly offset from a central position such that the colored portion ofthe wheel 61 will underlie the open end 59 of the light passing member57. The outer periphery of the wheel 61 is finned as at 63 and thefinning is such that an upward rise of air through the finned area willcause rotation of the wheel 61. Arranged in generally underlyingrelation to the open end of the light passing member and generally belowthe colored and finned area of the wheel 61 is an upwardly directedlight source 64 and a material holding device 65. This device mayconsist of a simple rod member having an enlarged end 65a which rod andend aid in positioning the holding device 65 in an aperture 51a in thebase 51. This device is provided with material hold ing means adjacentits upper end 65b which means may include simple locating means such asa material receiving passage or more complicated means such as springclamps or the like.

This holding device is particularly designed to hold burnable aromaticmaterial such as insence or the like such that the aromatic fumesthereof will pass upwardly into the light passing member 57 andultimately through the upper end thereof and into the room. As the fumespass through the light passing member 57 they will reflect and dispersethe colored light passing therethrough for the desired effect.

At the upper end 58 of the light passing member 57 a candle typeconfiguration is developed and the ultimate end 58a is provided with avalving member 70 to control the emission of the fumes therefrom. Thisvalving member 70 is received into a passage 58b in this upper end andincludes a bifurcated member having a pair of gradually separating arms71, 72 and a top portion 73 to permit pulling the valving memberupwardly to increase the communication of the interior of the lightpassing member with the outside area. This type of valving member isrelatively simple but will provide an effective control for the emissionof the fumes. Obviously various other valving members could be utilizedto control this fume emission.

Although stress has been placed on the decorative aspect of the lightingdevice, it should be obvious that variations in power to the lightsources would make the device useable as more than a simple decorativedevice.

The various forms of the invention all incorporate the concept ofpassing light through a coloring device and then passing the samethrough some type of flowing medium. These concepts may be expanded toinclude other types of mediums with other means for controlling thedesired coloring effect.

It should be obvious that applicant has provided a unique lightingdevice having decorative and functional uses.

What I claim is:

l. A light device including:

a. a base member defining a cavity therein;

b. a light passing member defining a passage therein and arranged toreceive light fromsaid cavity and extending outwardly from said base;

c. light reflecting means carried by said light passing member includingparticles passed through said light passing member;

d. a light source arranged within said cavity and directing lighttherefrom into said light passing member; and,

e. means for coloring the light from said light source interposedbetween said light source and said light passing member.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 and fan means connected to saidlight passing member for driving said particles therein.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2 and said light passing memberbeing generally U-shaped, the ends of the U being arranged on said baseto receive light therein and the ends being connected to said fan toprovide a closed circulation system.

4. A lighting device including:

a. a base member defining a cavity therein; b. a light passing memberdefining a passage therein and arranged to receive light from saidcavity and extending outwardly from said base;

c. a light reflecting medium carried by said light passing member;

d. a light source arranged within said cavity and directing lighttherefrom into said light passing member;

e. means for coloring the light from said light source interposedbetween said light source and light passing member; and,

f. means for positioning a burnable material in said cavity below saidlight passing member to permit the fumes thereof to pass into saidmember.

5. The structure set forth in claim 4 and means for controlling the flowof the fumes from said burnable material from said light passing member.

6. The structure set forth in claim 5 and said light passing memberhaving a tapered remote end and said means for controlling flow fromsaid member being arranged on said end.

7. The structure set forth in claim 6 and said fume controlling meansincluding valving means.

1. A light device including: a. a base member defining a cavity therein; b. a light passing member defining a passage therein and arranged to receive light from said cavity and extending outwardly from said base; c. light reflecting means carried by said light passing member including particles passed through said light passing member; d. a light source arranged within said cavity and directing light therefrom into said light passing member; and, e. means for coloring the light from said light source interposed between said light source and said light passing member.
 2. The structure set forth in claim 1 and fan means connected to said light passing member for driving said particles therein.
 3. The structure set forth in claim 2 and said light passing member being generally U-shaped, the ends of the U being arranged on said base to receive light therein and the ends being connected to said fan to provide a closed circulation system.
 4. A lighting device including: a. a base member defining a cavity therein; b. a light passing member defining a passage therein and arranged to receive light from said cavity and extending outwardly from said base; c. a light reflecting medium carried by said light passing member; d. a light source arranged within said cavity and directing light therefrom into said light passing member; e. means for coloring the light from said light source interposed between said light source and light passing member; and, f. means for positioning a burnable material in said cavity below said light passing member to permit the fumes thereof to pass into said member.
 5. The structure set forth in claim 4 and means for controlling the flow of the fumes from said burnable material from said light passing member.
 6. The structure set forth in claim 5 and said light passing member having a tapered remote end and said means for controlling flow from said member being arranged on said end.
 7. The structure set forth in claim 6 and said fume controlling means including valving means. 